Vehicular display system and method

ABSTRACT

A vehicular display system includes an in-vehicle navigation device and a vehicular meter device. The in-vehicle navigation device includes a display, a navigation data producing device for producing first data that is to be displayed on the display, and a transmitting device for transmitting intermediate data to the vehicular meter device. The vehicular meter device includes a receiving device for receiving the intermediate data from the in-vehicle navigation device and a navigation data display area for displaying second data. A display size changing device for changing the first data into the second data is included in at least one of the in-vehicle navigation device and the vehicular meter device. A display size of the first data is different from the display size of the second data.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is based on and incorporates herein by referenceJapanese Patent Application No. 2005-280577 filed on Sep. 27, 2005.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a vehicular display system.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Recently, besides a conventional mechanical meter, an image displaydevice using a liquid crystal panel or the like, is employed as adisplay device for a vehicular meter panel. The image display device hasan advantage of fully controlling a setting of a display design and alayout.

In addition to the conventional mechanical meter, this image displaydevice displays a screen of an in-vehicle navigation device. Besides, aroute guidance device, which switches two modes (between a stop mode anda drive mode) according to a speed of a vehicle, has been proposed(JP11-051686A). In the stop mode, information required when the vehiclestops is displayed on a small screen of a liquid crystal display (LCD)display device. In the drive mode, information required when the vehicleis traveling is displayed on a large screen of the LCD display device.On the other hand, a map, the vehicle's own location, and a navigationguidance image including a guidepath while guiding a driver, aredisplayed on the small screen in the drive mode.

In a map display device in JP11-051686A, the navigation guidance imageis displayed on a meter display. However, the map display device doesnot operate in coordination with a meter ECU that controls the meterdisplay. Thus, the LCD display device of the meter display is notutilized effectively. Moreover, since the images are switched accordingto the speed of the vehicle, information that a user demands may not bedisplayed.

Furthermore, the user normally remembers ‘which information is displayedon which area of a display screen’. Consequently, when the user wants toknow the speed of the vehicle, for example, he/she tends to ‘look at anarea of the display screen, on which a speedometer is displayed’ insteadof ‘looking for the speedometer’. Hence, switching the screen displaysaccording to the speed of the vehicle may not allow the user to readilyobtain required information, because it may take him/her a long time to‘look for the speedometer’.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention addresses the above disadvantages. Thus, it is anobjective of the present invention to provide a vehicular display systemand method, which provides map information and the like, which are easyto read for a user.

To achieve the objective, there is provided a vehicular display system,which includes an in-vehicle navigation device and a vehicular meterdevice. The in-vehicle navigation device includes a display fordisplaying first data. The navigation device produces the first datathat is to be displayed on the display, and transmits intermediate datato the vehicular meter device. The vehicular meter device receives theintermediate data from the in-vehicle navigation device. The meterdevice includes a navigation data display area for displaying seconddata. A display size changing for changing the first data into thesecond data is performed by at least one of the in-vehicle navigationdevice and the vehicular meter device. A display size of the first datais different from the display size of the second data.

There is also provided a vehicular meter device, which receives firstdata from an output medium. The meter device changes the first data intosecond data. The meter device includes a navigation data display areafor displaying the second data. The second data is displayed with adifferent size from the first data in the navigation data display area.

There is further provided a method for displaying travel guidanceinformation in a vehicle that has a navigation system and a meterdisplay device. The method includes producing first data in thenavigation system, changing the produced first data into second data, adisplay size of which is different from the display size of the firstdata, and displaying the travel guidance information in the meterdisplay device based on the second data.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention, together with additional objectives, features andadvantages thereof, will be best understood from the followingdescription, the appended claims and the accompanying drawings. In thedrawings:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a vehicular display system accordingto an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a meter ECU and a meter in theembodiment;

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an in-vehicle navigation device in theembodiment;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of a meter panel in the embodiment;

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing display size change processing in anin-vehicle navigation device in the embodiment;

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing drawing processing executed by a meter ECUin the embodiment;

FIG. 7 is an exemplary meter display size table in the embodiment;

FIG. 8 is a schematic view showing an exemplary display of a meter,which employs the embodiment;

FIG. 9 is a schematic view showing another exemplary display of a meter,which employs the embodiment; and

FIG. 10 is a schematic view showing an exemplary arrangement of a meterand an in-vehicle navigation device on an instrumental panel of avehicle in the embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENT

With reference to FIG. 1, a vehicular display system includes a meterECU 40, a meter unit 50, and an in-vehicle navigation device 100. Themeter ECU 40 and the navigation device 100 are connected by anin-vehicle local area network (LAN) 27. Alternatively to the in-vehicleLAN 27, a dedicated cable may be employed in transmitting data accordingto contents of the data.

As shown in detail in FIG. 2, the meter ECU 40 includes a control part41, an I/O 42, a drawing part 43, a LAN I/F 44, and an external memory45. The drawing part 43, the LAN I/F 44, and the external memory 45 areconnected to the control part 41 through the I/O 42.

The control part 41 includes a CPU 41 a, a ROM 41 b, a RAM 41 c, and aperipheral circuitry (not shown) such as an A/D converter, all of whichare well known. The ROM 41 b stores various data and a meter controlprogram 41 p that is used for executing various types of processing,which is performed by the meter ECU 40.

A meter display size changing part in the present embodiment, namely,the drawing part 43, produces meter display data used for a display inthe meter unit 50 based on data required for a meter display, which areobtained from, for example, the in-vehicle LAN 27. Also, the drawingpart 43 stores data used for the display and for a display color. Thedata to be obtained is on, for instance, engine water temperature, anengine rotation speed, a vehicle speed, a shift position, a mileage, adate and time, and a residual fuel.

The LAN I/F 44 exchanges the data with the in-vehicle LAN 27.

The external memory 45, which is for storing a display size, includes anelectrically erasable and programmable read only memory (EEPROM) and arewritable semiconductor memory such as a flash memory. The externalmemory 45 stores information and data required for an operation of themeter ECU 40. In addition, the external memory 45 is designed to retainmemory contents even though the meter ECU 40 falls into an off-state.

The meter unit 50 includes a microphone 51, a speaker 52, an LED 53, anda display device 54. The meter unit 50 displays an image defined by themeter display data, which has been produced by the meter ECU 40.

The microphone 51 is used, for example, as a part of a voice inputdevice of the navigation device 100. Instead of using the in-vehicle LAN27, voice data that are inputted into the microphone 51 may betransmitted directly to the navigation device 100.

The speaker 52 transmits a voice message from various types ofin-vehicle equipment. As well, the speaker 52 transmits the voicemessage of the navigation device 100. Additionally, the speaker 52 andthe navigation device 100 may be directly connected instead of the useof the in-vehicle LAN 27. As shown in FIG. 4, the speaker 52 may beinstalled close to a lens 56 in a meter hood 55.

The LED 53 is used mainly, for instance, as a direction indicator lamp,an operation monitor lamp and a warning lamp.

The display device 54 includes a panel 54 a (e.g., a well-known colorLCD), a back light 54 b, and a driver circuit (not shown) to control theliquid crystal display. An active matrix drive system, for example, maybe employed for the driver circuit. The active matrix drive systemallows ensuring that a target pixel is lit or extinguished by applying atransistor to each pixel. The display is performed by the driver circuitbased on a drawing command and the drawing data (i.e., the meter displaydata) that are transmitted from the meter ECU 40. Alternatively, anorganic electroluminescence (EL) indicator or a plasma indicator may besubstituted for the display device 54.

The meter unit 50 may be constructed as shown in FIG. 4. The displaydevice 54, a meter board 58 (which includes the driver circuit and thelike), the LED 53 (not shown) and the like are received in a case 57,which is attached to a predetermined position of a dash panel. Upper andlower parts of the case 57 are covered with a meter hood 55 to improvevisibility of the meter unit 50, as a result of reducing mainlyreflection and glare of light. A lens 56 is attached to a front side ofthe display device 54 so that a driver can easily read the displayindicated at an appropriate magnification.

The navigation device 100 includes, as shown in FIG. 3, a positionsensor 1, a map data entry device 6, a control switch group 7, a remotecontrol sensor 11, a voice synthesis circuit 24 and a speaker 15 thatprovide an audio assist, a nonvolatile memory 9, a display device 10, ahard disk device (HDD) 21, a control circuit 8 that is connected to theabove elements, and a remote control terminal 12.

The position sensor 1 includes a magnetic field sensor 2, a gyroscope 3,a distance sensor 4, and a GPS receiver 5, all of which are well known.The GPS receiver 5 detects a position of a vehicle based on a radio wavefrom a satellite. Since these elements 2, 3, 4, 5 have errors with theirproperties different from each other, the elements 2, 3, 4, 5 areconfigured such that a plurality of the sensors complement one another.In addition, depending on accuracy, a part of the above sensors mayconstitute the position sensor 1. Furthermore, a rotation sensor of asteering, and a wheel sensor of each rolling wheel (e.g., a speed sensor23) may be employed for constituting the position sensor 1.

A touch panel 22 integrated with the display device 10, or a mechanicalswitch, for instance, may be employed for the control switch group 7. Anelectric circuit of the touch panel 22, which includes a transparentfilm and a glass substrate, is wired in directions of an X-axis and aY-axis. The transparent film is placed on the glass substrate, which isin turn placed on a screen of the display device 10, with a gap providedby a spacer disposed between the transparent film and the glasssubstrate. When the user touches the transparent film, a part of awiring that is being pressed by the user short-circuits, therebychanging a voltage. A known resistive method is widely used fordetecting this voltage as a two-dimensional coordinate (X, Y).Alternatively, a known capacitive method may be employed for detecting achange of a capacitance as an electronic signal by a sensor, when afinger is brought close to a glass surface of a transparent conductivesubstrate, to which a substance that receives the electronic signal isapplied. Besides the mechanical switch, a pointing device such as amouse or a cursor may be alternatively used.

Using a microphone 31 and a voice recognition unit 30, various commandscan be inputted. The voice recognition unit 30 processes a sound signalthat has been inputted from the microphone 31 by means of voicerecognition technologies such as a well-known hidden Markov model. Thenthe sound signal is converted into an operation command according to aresult of the processing. These input operating means in the presentembodiment, that is, the control switch group 7, the remote controlterminal 12, and the microphone 31 allow the various commands to beinputted. In addition, the microphone 51 of the meter unit 50 may beemployed as an alternative.

An external information obtaining part in the present embodiment,namely, a transmitter-receiver 13, is a device for receiving vehicleinformation (road traffic information), for example, from a vehicleinformation and communication system (VICS) center 14.

Furthermore, by communicating with an in-vehicle electronic tollcollection (ETC) device 16, toll information or the like, which thein-vehicle ETC device 16 receives from an on-street ETC device (notshown), can be included in the navigation device 100. Alternatively, thetransmitter-receiver 13 may communicate with the VICS center 14 byconnecting the in-vehicle ETC device 16 to an external network.

An input operation detecting means in the present embodiment, namely,the control circuit 8 is configured as a normal computer. The controlcircuit 8 includes a CPU 81, a ROM 82, a RAM 83, an input/output circuit(I/O) 84, and a bus line 85 that connects the above elements to eachother. The CPU 81 performs control, using data and a navigation program21 p that are stored in a HDD 21. The CPU 81 has read-write control ofthe data over the HDD 21. An A/D converting part 86 includes awell-known analog/digital (A/D) converter. The A/D converting part 86converts, for example, analog data, which has been inputted into thecontrol circuit 8 from the position sensor 1 and the like, into digitaldata that allows an operation in the CPU 81. In addition, the ROM 82 maystore a program for a minimally necessary operation in case of a failureof the HDD 21, among navigation functions.

A drawing part 87, which produces a navigation data as well as changinga display size, produces the drawing data to be displayed on the displaydevice 10 or on a navigation data display area 66 (shown in FIGS. 8, 9)of the meter unit 50, based on display data and display color data thatare stored in the HDD 21 and the like.

The HDD 21, which stores the display size, stores map data 21 m thatincludes so-called map-matching data for the purpose of an accuracyimprovement in position detection, and road data on a road juncture, inaddition to the navigation program 21 p. The map data 21 m storesinformation on a network of roads as well as predetermined map imageinformation for display purposes. The information on the network of theroads includes link information, node information and the like. The linkinformation is information on predetermined sectional roads thatconstitute each road, and includes a position coordinate, a distance,time required, road width, the number of lanes, a speed limit and thelike. The node information defines an intersection (a branch road) andthe like, and includes the position coordinate, the number of right- andleft-turn lanes, a link to a road to be joined, and the like. Junctureinformation between the links is set for data, such as the data onwhether or not to allow traffic.

Also, the HDD 21 stores user data 21 u, into which extra information onrouting assistance, entertainment information and the user's own datacan be written. Contents of the user data 21 u can be rewritten throughoperations of the control switch group 7, the touch panel 22 and theremote control terminal 12, or through a voice input from the microphone31. Additionally, the HDD 21 may include a database 21 d, which storesdata required for an operation of the navigation device 100, andinformation of various sorts.

Data addition and update can be performed on the map data 21 m and theuser data 21 u via the map data entry device 6, using a storage medium20. Although a CD-ROM, a DVD or the like is generally used as thestorage medium 20 given a data volume of the storage medium 20, othermedia such as a memory card may be used as the storage medium 20. Inaddition, data used for the addition and the update of the map data 21 mand the user data 21 u may also be downloaded from an information centersuch as an Internet server via the external network.

The nonvolatile memory 9 includes a random access memory (RAM) such asthe EEPROM and a flash memory. The nonvolatile memory 9 storesinformation and data that are required for the operation of thenavigation device 100. The nonvolatile memory 9 is designed to retainmemory contents even if an accessory switch of the vehicle falls into anoff-state, that is, the navigation device 100 is turned off.

Besides, as an alternative to the nonvolatile memory 9, the HDD 21 maystore the information and the data that are required for the operationof the navigation device 100. Moreover, the information and the datathat are required for the operation of the navigation device 100 may bestored in the nonvolatile memory 9 and the HDD 21 separately.

The display device 10 is configured using a well-known color liquidcrystal display, and includes the driver circuit (not shown) for thepurpose of controlling a dot matrix LCD and an LCD. For instance, theactive matrix drive system, which ensures that the target pixel is litor extinguished by applying the transistor to each pixel, may beemployed as the driver circuit, thereby performing display, on the basisof a display command and display screen data (navigation data) that havebeen produced in the control circuit 8. In addition, the organic ELindicator or the plasma indicator may be substituted for the displaydevice 10.

The speaker 15 is connected to the well-known voice synthesis circuit24, which is in turn connected to the I/O 84 of the control circuit 8.By a command of the navigation program 21 p, digital voice data, whichis stored in the nonvolatile memory 9 or in the HDD 21, is transformedinto analog voice by the voice synthesis circuit 24, and the analogvoice is emitted from the speaker 15. A recording and editing method,whereby a voice waveform that is directly accumulated or accumulatedafter encoding it is pieced together as required, for example, may beemployed as a method for synthesizing voices. Besides, the speaker 52 ofthe meter unit 50 may be used as the speaker 15.

The speed sensor 23 includes a rotation detecting part such as awell-known rotary encoder. The speed sensor 23 is installed, forexample, close to a wheel installation part in order to detect rotationof a wheel, and to input a result of this detection into the controlcircuit 8 as a pulse signal. In the control circuit 8, the number ofrevolutions of the vehicle wheel is converted into the vehicle speed,thereby calculating estimated arrival time from the present position ofthe vehicle to a destination, and an average vehicle speed according toeach vehicle running section.

A LAN I/F 26 is an interface circuit to exchange data with thein-vehicle LAN 27. In addition, via the LAN I/F 26, the in-vehicle LAN27 may capture data from the speed sensor 23, or may be connected to thein-vehicle ETC device 16.

By virtue of the above configuration, if the user chooses routingassistance processing from a menu displayed on the display device 10through the operations of the control switch group 7, the touch panel 22and the remote control terminal 12, or through the voice input from themicrophone 31 in order to indicate a route to a destination on thedisplay device 10 when the navigation program 21 p is activated by theCPU 81 of the control circuit 8, the navigation device 100 performs thefollowing processing.

First, the user chooses a certain point among arbitrary points on a map,points obtained as a result of retrieval of facilities and addresses,points registered by the user, and the like, and the user subsequentlysets this point as his/her destination. The navigation device 100obtains the present position of the vehicle by the position sensor 1,and obtains an optimal guidance route from the present position to thedestination. Then, the guidance route is displayed on a road map on thedisplay device 10 by adding the guidance route to the road map, therebyguiding the user to take an appropriate route. A Dijkstra method, forexample, is known as the above method for automatically setting theoptimal guidance route. The user is provided with guidance whileoperating the navigation device 100, and is informed of a messageaccording to an operating state by means of at least one of the displaydevice 10 and the speaker 15.

The navigation device 100, particularly the control circuit 8, performsdisplay size change processing shown in FIG. 5 for the purpose of thedisplay in the meter unit 50. The present processing is included in thenavigation program 21 p and is repeatedly performed with other programsthan the navigation program 21 p. Firstly, based on the present positionof the vehicle detected by the position sensor 1, the map information onadjacencies to the present position of the vehicle is obtained (S1) fromthe map data 21 m. Navigation map drawing data, which is used for thedisplay on the display device 10 of the navigation device 100, isproduced at step S2.

Secondly, whether or not METER in FIG. 5 (the meter ECU 40) requiresnavigation display (i.e., the navigation map drawing data) isdetermined. Data that has been inputted from the meter ECU 40 into thenavigation device 100 via the in-vehicle LAN 27 is stored in apredetermined area of the RAM 83. Absence or presence of a navigationdisplay request by the meter ECU 40 is indicated with a navigationdisplay request flag, which is included in the data. If the navigationdisplay is required, the navigation display request flag is set.

If the navigation display is required (S3: Yes), a meter display sizetable stored in the database 21 d is referred to. Then, a display sizeof the navigation map drawing data produced at step S2 is converted intoa different display size, which is to be displayed on the meter unit 50,thereby producing meter map drawing data (S5).

When information obtained from another in-vehicle control device via thein-vehicle LAN 27, and/or from an external device such as the VICScenter 14 is given priority to be displayed over the navigation mapdrawing data produced at step S2, the navigation map drawing data isproduced based on the above information. For instance, if the user isconducting a setting operation through the operation of the touch panel22 or the remote control terminal 12, or through the voice input fromthe microphone 31, a setting screen used by the user becomes thenavigation map drawing data.

In an exemplary meter display size table shown in FIG. 7, an ID numberis assigned to each display item, and the display size is definedcorrespondingly. Criteria for the definition of the display size may be,for example, as follows:

-   (1) Make large the display size of the screen used for function    settings, for the purpose of facilitation of the users setting    operation.-   (2) Make small the display size if the same information is displayed    for a long time, since the user is unlikely to miss the information.-   (3) Make large the display size of the information to be urgently    recognized by the user.

In FIG. 7, the display sizes of a normal map display and a freeway modeare made small, because the information does not change considerably. Inthe freeway mode, various pieces of information are displayed whiledriving on a freeway. The display size of a menu screen is made large tofacilitate the user's setting operation. In a double-screen mode, inwhich a main screen and a subscreen are simultaneously displayed, one ofthe screens is made medium-sized when displayed. In an intersectionenlarged view, where a predetermined point is enlarged to be displayed,the display size is made large to make the user immediately aware of theinformation. Additionally, a degree of the enlargement is stored as anenlargement ratio.

The meter map drawing data that is produced is transmitted to the meterECU 40 via the in-vehicle LAN 27 (S6) if the navigation display isrequired (S3: Yes). On the other hand, in the display device 10 of thenavigation device 100, the navigation map drawing data produced at stepS2 is displayed (S4) if the navigation display is not required (S3: No).

If the navigation display is not required (S3: No), the navigation mapdrawing data, which has been produced at step S2, is displayed in thedisplay device 10 of the navigation device 100 (S4).

The above processing of FIG. 5 may be ‘event initiated’. That is, whenthe navigation display is required by the meter ECU 40, the meter mapdrawing data is transmitted to the meter ECU 40. Instead of determiningwhether or not the navigation display is required (as a condition atS3), other methods may be alternatively employed. For instance,transmission to the meter ECU 40 may be performed with a predeterminedtiming (e.g., at a constant frequency).

Drawing processing is performed on meter display data as shown in FIG.6. The present processing is included in the meter control program 41 pand is repeatedly performed with other programs than the meter controlprogram 41 p. First, whether or not the navigation display is requiredin the meter unit 50 is determined. Then, if the navigation display isrequired (S11: Yes), the navigation display request, which requests themap information (i.e., the meter map drawing data), is transmitted toNAVIGATION (the navigation device 100) via the in-vehicle LAN 27 (S12).

Processing of steps S5, S6 (FIG. 5) is performed in the navigationdevice 100. The meter map drawing data, which has been produced andinputted into the meter ECU 40 as a result of steps S5, S6, is obtainedby the drawing part 43 (S13). This meter map drawing data is combinedwith other drawing data such as those used for a speedometer, therebyproducing the meter display data that is to be inputted into the meterunit 50. The meter unit 50 displays the meter display data, which hasbeen inputted from the meter ECU 40 (S14).

As shown in FIGS. 8, 9, the meter unit 50 includes a meter display area,a navigation data display area 66, and the like. The meter display areaincludes a water temperature display area 61, a speed display area 62,an engine speed display area 64, and a fuel level gauge display area 65.In FIG. 8 that illustrates a state of the normal map display, thedisplay size is made small. A trip meter and the shift position may bedisplayed on the meter display area.

FIG. 9 illustrates a state of routing assistance, in which a driver isguided to turn left at the intersection. The display size is made large,so that the map is enlarged to occupy unused areas of the speed displayarea 62 and the engine speed display area 64.

When the meter map drawing data such as the map is enlarged to bedisplayed, the enlargement ratio or an enlargement range is determined,such that the enlarged display does not overlap with the meter displayarea (i.e., a display area except the navigation data display area 66).In FIG. 9, in which the map is enlarged to be displayed on thenavigation data display area 66, if an engine speed increases, forexample, it is possible that a meter pointer 64 a of the engine speeddisplay area 64 overlaps with a map display on the navigation datadisplay area 66. In such a case, the meter map drawing data may beenlarged to be displayed on the navigation data display area 66 with apredetermined distance (e.g., the number of display dots) apart from anarea where the meter displays such as the meter pointer 64 a and a scale64 b are performed. The same is true with a meter pointer 62 a of thespeed display area 62.

At the engine speed display area 64, the map can be enlarged to bedisplayed up to an inner side of a number (0 (zero) to 9) arranged alongthe scale 64 b, as long as the enlarged display does not overlap withthe meter pointer 64 a. As the meter pointer 64 a moves from a positionshown in FIG. 9 to a higher engine speed side of the scale 64 b, a partof the map, which is located in an area that the meter pointer 64 aapproaches, gradually disappears. When the engine speed decreases, themeter pointer 64 a moves back to the position shown in FIG. 9.Meanwhile, as the meter pointer 64 a moves to a lower engine speed sideof the scale 64 b, the navigation data display area 66 becomes larger todisplay the map.

In the embodiment, both the meter unit 50 and the navigation device 100may be provided on an instrumental panel of a vehicle as shown in FIG.10. The navigation device 100, particularly a navigation display screenof the navigation device 100, is installed in the center of theinstrumental panel. A display data size displayed in the navigationdisplay screen is changed into a new display data size, which is in turndisplayed in the meter unit 50.

(First Modification)

The display size change processing may be performed in the meter ECU 40.To employ such a configuration, step S5 in FIG. 5 is not performed bythe navigation program 21 p, and the navigation map drawing data isdirectly transmitted to the meter ECU 40. Then, in the meter controlprogram 41 p after step S13 in FIG. 6, production (that corresponds tostep S5 in FIG. 5) of the meter map drawing data is carried out, therebychanging the display size of the navigation map drawing data, andproducing the meter map drawing data. The meter display size table isstored in the external memory 45.

(Second Modification)

Furthermore, the display size change processing may be performed both inthe navigation device 100 and in the meter ECU 40. To employ such aconfiguration, in the meter control program 41 p after step S13 in FIG.6, the production (that corresponds to step S5 in FIG. 5) of the metermap drawing data (transmitting navigation data) is carried out. Then,the display size of meter map drawing data (the transmitting navigationdata) (in which the display size has already been changed), which istransmitted from the navigation device 100, is changed again, therebyproducing new meter map drawing data. The meter display size table isstored in the external memory 45 as well.

The display size change processing may be performed in the meter ECU 40.In the navigation device 100, in this case, the information obtainedfrom another in-vehicle control device via the in-vehicle LAN 27 and/orfrom the external device such as the VICS center 14, and contents of theuser's setting operation through the operation of the touch panel 22 orthe remote control terminal 12, or through the voice input from themicrophone 31, together with the navigation map drawing data, aretransmitted to the meter ECU 40 when required. Additionally, in themeter ECU 40, the information may be obtained from another in-vehiclecontrol device or the external device.

Thus far, the embodiments of the present invention have been described.However, they are no more than illustrations, and thus the presentinvention is not by any means limited to them. Various changes based onknowledge of those skilled in the art may be made without departing fromthe scope of the claims. For example, in the case of the user's inputoperation such as retrieval of the guidance route to the destination,the display size of the navigation data may be enlarged throughout thewhole display area of the display device 10. Similarly, the displaysizes of various menu screens on a navigation screen may be enlargedthroughout the whole display area of the display device 10.

Additional advantages and modifications will readily occur to thoseskilled in the art. The invention in its broader terms is therefore notlimited to the specific details, representative apparatus, andillustrative examples shown and described.

1. A vehicular display system comprising: an in-vehicle navigationdevice; and a vehicular meter device, wherein: the in-vehicle navigationdevice includes: a navigation data producing means for producing firstdata; and a transmitting means for transmitting intermediate data to thevehicular meter device, wherein: the intermediate data is one of thefollowing data: the first data; second data; and transmission navigationdata; the vehicular meter device includes: a receiving means forreceiving the intermediate data from the in-vehicle navigation device;and a navigation data display area for displaying the second data; atleast one of the in-vehicle navigation device and the vehicular meterdevice includes a display size changing means for changing the firstdata into the second data, wherein, a display size of the first data isdifferent from the display size of the second data; and the vehicularmeter device includes the navigation data display area and a meterdisplay area in the same display screen.
 2. The vehicular display systemaccording to claim 1, wherein: the display size changing means isincluded in the in-vehicle navigation device; the first data isnavigation data; the second data is meter display navigation data; andthe intermediate data is: transmitted to the vehicular meter device bythe transmitting means; and received from the in-vehicle navigationdevice by the receiving means, wherein: the intermediate data is thesecond data.
 3. The vehicular display system according to claim 1,wherein: the display size changing means is included in the vehicularmeter device; the first data is navigation data; the second data ismeter display navigation data; and the intermediate data is: transmittedto the vehicular meter device by the transmitting means; and receivedfrom the in-vehicle navigation device by the receiving means, wherein:the intermediate data is the first data.
 4. The vehicular display systemaccording to claim 1, wherein: the display size changing means isincluded in: the in-vehicle navigation device, wherein: the first datais navigation data; and the second data is the transmission navigationdata; and the vehicular meter device, wherein: the first data is thetransmission navigation data; and the second data is meter displaynavigation data; and the intermediate data is: transmitted to thevehicular meter device by the transmitting means; and received from thein-vehicle navigation device by the receiving means, wherein: theintermediate data is the transmission navigation data.
 5. The vehiculardisplay system according to claim 1, wherein the vehicular meter deviceincludes an undisplayed area in the meter display area as the navigationdata display area.
 6. The vehicular display system according to claim 1,wherein the vehicular meter device excludes an undisplayed area in themeter display area, which is used for a meter display, form thenavigation data display area.
 7. The vehicular display system accordingto claim 1, further comprising: a position detecting means for detectinga present position of a vehicle, wherein: the display size changingmeans changes the display size of the first data according to thepresent position of the vehicle, which is detected by the positiondetecting means.
 8. The vehicular display system according to claim 1,further comprising: an input operating means for performing an inputoperation on the in-vehicle navigation device; and an input operationdetecting means for detecting the input operation, wherein: the displaysize changing means changes the display size of the first data accordingto the input operation, which is detected by the input operationdetecting means.
 9. The vehicular display system according to claim 1,further comprising: an external information obtaining means forobtaining information from an external device, wherein: the display sizechanging means changes the display size of the first data according tothe information, which is obtained by the external information obtainingmeans.
 10. The vehicular display system according to claim 1, whereinthe display size changing means changes the display size of the firstdata according to display contents of the first data.
 11. The vehiculardisplay system according to claim 1, further comprising: a display sizestoring means for storing: a condition under which the display size ofthe first data is changed; and display size changing data, wherein: thedisplay size changing means changes the display size of the first databased on contents stored by the display size storing means.
 12. Avehicular meter device comprising: a meter; a receiving means forreceiving first data from an output medium; and a display size changingmeans for changing the first data into second data when a predeterminedsize changing condition is set, wherein: the meter further includes: avehicle speed display area; an engine speed display area; and anavigation data display area for displaying either one of the first dataand the second data, wherein: the second data is displayed with adifferent size from the first data in the navigation data display area.13. A method for displaying travel guidance information in a vehiclethat has a navigation system and a meter display device, the methodcomprising: producing first data in the navigation system; changing theproduced first data into second data, a display size of which isdifferent from the display size of the first data, when a predeterminedsize changing condition is set; and displaying the travel guidanceinformation in the meter display device based on either one of the firstdata and the second data.
 14. The method according to claim 13, wherein:the changing employs a pre-stored table, whereby the display size of anitem to be displayed is determined.
 15. The method according to claim14, wherein: the item of the pre-stored table includes: a display for afunction setting; information displayed over a prolonged period of time;and information that is to be urgently recognized by a user.
 16. Avehicular display system comprising: an in-vehicle navigation device;and a vehicular meter device, wherein: the in-vehicle navigation deviceincludes: a navigation data producing means for producing first data;and a transmitting means for transmitting intermediate data to thevehicular meter device, wherein: the intermediate data is one of thefollowing data: the first data; second data; and transmission navigationdata; the vehicular meter device includes: a receiving means forreceiving the intermediate data from the in-vehicle navigation device;and a navigation data display area for displaying the second data; atleast one of the in-vehicle navigation device and the vehicular meterdevice includes a display size changing means for changing the firstdata into the second data, wherein: a display size of the first data isdifferent from the display size of the second data; and a positiondetecting means for detecting a present position of a vehicle, wherein:the display size changing means changes the display size of the firstdata according to the present position of the vehicle, which is detectedby the position detecting means.
 17. A vehicular display systemcomprising: an in-vehicle navigation device; and a vehicular meterdevice, wherein: the in-vehicle navigation device includes: a navigationdata producing means for producing first data; and a transmitting meansfor transmitting intermediate data to the vehicular meter device,wherein: the intermediate data is one of the following data: the firstdata; second data; and transmission navigation data; the vehicular meterdevice includes: a receiving means for receiving the intermediate datafrom the in-vehicle navigation device; and a navigation data displayarea for displaying the second data; at least one of the in-vehiclenavigation device and the vehicular meter device includes a display sizechanging means for changing the first data into the second data,wherein: a display size of the first data is different from the displaysize of the second data; and a display size storing means for storing: acondition under which the display size of the first data is changed; anddisplay size changing data, wherein: the display size changing meanschanges the display size of the first data based on contents stored bythe display size storing means.